Yarn carrier control mechanism for straight or full-fashioned knitting machines



March 15, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 2,111,495

' YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT I OR'FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V ENTOR. flaw 5075 1191 0127;

BY l

A ATTORNE March 15, 1938.

P. SCHMIDT YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT OR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1935 9 Shets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR:

w; ,Mmmz;

ATTORNEY.

March 15, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 2,111,495

YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT I OH FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet s Pica-,3-

INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

March 15, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 2,111,495

YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT 0R FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES 'Filed May 21, 1935 I 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNE P. SCHMIDT YARN CAl IRIE R CONTROL] MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT OR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21 1955 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 15, 1938.

INVENTOR: W flzzzZ sckmzdij W3 I ATTORNEY.

- 2,111,495 STRAIGHT HINES 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR: raw 5w 5%;

ATTOR Y;

March 15, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 2,111,495

YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT QR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 FLE- .iU-

. INVENTOR: fan Z 'fly'k ATTORNEY.

March 15,1938.- -P. SCHMIDT YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT OR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING- MACHINES -Filed May 21, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 I N VEN TOR.

FL :3- -ll- "Pi-E .12.

March 15, 1938. P. SCHMIDT 2,111,495

7 YARN CARRIER CONTROL MECHANISM FOR STRAIGHT OR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1935 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR:

fizz/Z flahmz i A TTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 15 1938 I 1 2,111,495

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRAIGHT OR FULL-FASHIONED KNIT- TING MAGEiINES Paul Schmidt, Wyomissing, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation oi Pennsylvania Application May 21, 1935, Serial No. 22,538

| 17 Claims. (01. 66-427) My invention relates to means for selectively cludes a member, which, although moving conmaintaining the carrier rods of a flat knitting stantly, is ineilective, except as periodically renmachine inoperative during the operation of acdered eiiective in accordance with the pattern. tuating means therefor, and particularly to Thus, undue vibration, wear and other undesirmeans for automatically selecting the rods for able features are presented. 5 such operation in accordance with the pattern of According to my invention, the above disadvan a fabric being knitted. tage is avoided, and a device provided, in which During theproduction of hosiery on a full fashnone of the parts operates idly, or until required ioned knitting machine, it is necessary to periodito operate according to the pattern. r l0 cally substitute one yarn for another, as when a With these and other objects in view, which ravel course is formed, or to supplement one yarn will become apparent from the following detailed by another, as during a plating operation. description of the illustrative embodiment of the Since it frequently becomes necessary to move invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the couliering mechanism through inoperative my invention resides in the novel mechanism and 1 cycles, as when certain carriers are held stationmeans for operating the same, as hereinafter l5 ary, while, others are repositioned at diilerent more particularly pointed out in the claims. points in the knitting field, and while all of the In the drawings:

carriers are connected to their actuator mecha- Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion'of a fullnism, means must be provided for repositioning fashioned knitting machine embodying my inthe couliering mechanism to effect this action. vention; 20 These inoperative movements of the coiillering Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a mechanism are known as "idle courses". full-fashioned knitting machine, illustrating the It is among the objects of this invention to proinvention with respect thereto; vide novel means in a knitting machine for auto- Fig. 3 is a view, taken substantially along the matically locking reciprocableelements, as above line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing control and carrle 25 indicated, against the action of the operating rod locking mechanismthereof; members thereof, preferably as effected through Fig. 4 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, showing elefrictional engagement with the actuating means ments for locking certain of the carrier rods;

and to selectively hold, and release, the elements, Figs. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the locking mecha- 80 particularly as related to the selection, and posinism for other carrier rods;'

tioning, of yarn carriers for effecting idle courses, I Fig. 8 is a detail view, in section, of a means Another object is to provide, in a knitting maemployed to lock certain of the yarn carrier chine, novel pattern-controlled means operable rods; u

to selectively prevent, and provide for; movement Fig. 9 is a diagram of the leg'blank of a full- 5 of reciprocable'yarn carrier rod -element's in prefashioned stocking, together with a plurality of "determined order, and particularly to means for pattern chainsgas developed or opened out alongselectively controlling the movements of frictionstraight lines in side elevation, from thenormally ally reciprocated rod elements relative to movelooped shape, indicating the positions along the ments of the actuating mechanism, without disblank at which the lock levers are operated and 40 engaging intermediate frictional connectors, the corresponding links of the chains by which 40 thereof. such operations are eil'ected;

A further object is to provide novel means, in- Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the bottom part eluding a central control shaft, whereby yarn of the blank of Fig. 9; carrier rods may selectively be held inactive dur- Figs. 11 to 22,- inclusive, are diagrams of the ing reciprocative movements of the driving mechcarrier rods and lock levers, insequence posi- 45 vanism thereof, without disconnecting an intertions during the knitting operation;

mediate driving means. Figs. 11a to 22a; inclusive, are end views, with It has heretofore been suggested to' control an adjacent end stops omitted, of the structures of auxiliary pattern unit by a main pattern chain or Figs. 11 to 22, respectively; and

device, of a knitting machine, by a mechanism Figs. 11!) to 22b, inclusive, are similar views of 50 including a constantly operating power-supplytheopposite ends of the structures of Figs. 11 to ing element for operating the auxiliary unit, as 22, inclusive. Y

selected for operation by the main pattern device. Figs. 1 to 3 illustrate various parts of a Read- In other words, the connection or linkage, being full fashioned knitting machine embodying as tween the auxiliary andinain pattern units, in: a the mechanism and elements of my invention.

For clearness, only those parts of the various mechanism necessary for anunderstanding of the invention are shown; the other parts, and the operation thereof being well known in the art, as shown and described in the Reading Full Fashioned Knitting Machine Catalogue,

copyright 1929, and published by the Textile Ma- Through means of axially shiftable cams i8- and l9, and a cooperating chain-motion mechanism M, or main pattern device, the cam shaft l0 may readily be shifted from its normal position to the right, as viewed from the front of the machine. In the latter position of the shafts,

the narrowing heads N are operated, while the individual mechanisms are operated through narrowing cycles by corresponding narrowing cams on the shaft l8.

The yarn" carriers 9, mounted on the reciprocable carrier rods I to 8, respectively, are operated by friction boxes 28, one of whichis shown in Fig. 2, which are frictionally connected to a friction rod 22, to feed the respective yarns thereof to needles 23, Fig. 2; the .needles 28 being clamped to the needle bar 24, which is actuated by the needle and presser levers 25 and 28. The levers 25 and 28 are operated by cams on the cam shaft I8. Sinkers 21 and dividers 28 cooperate with the needles 28 to form loops.'

The forward movement of the sinkers is effected by a reciprocable cock box assembly 29, through means of intermediate jacks 30. The forward movement of the dividers 28, and the retracted movement of the sinkers 21' and the dividers 28, are effected by a catch bar '32, the movement of which is elected by cams on the cam shaft II. This movement is transmitted to the catch bar "through linkage including a cam follower 89, a cam lever 94, a horizontal catch bar shifter 98, and" a vertical qshifter arm 35.

An auxiliary pattern unit includes a control '-shaft 21, Fig. 3, supported by bearing members 98 attached to a transversely extending bar 89, which is secured to the center frames l8 and to the end mines l2. The shaft 811s ,intermittently racked by a cam 48, when a lever 42, pivotally mounted on the front beam 14, by a pin 48, is moved counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig.

.nism M.

1, by actuation of a rod 44. This movement of the rod 44 is effected by buttons '48 mounted on the auxiliary chain 41, which isoperatedby,

. ratchet wheel. 59 is actuated by a pawl 92, that is plvotaliy mounted on a member 58. The latter is rotatably mounted on the shaft 81, and

connected, by a link 54, to the upper end of the which are supported by the 7 A spring 55 is anchored, at one end, to the back beam l5, by a bracket 56, and hasits opposite end connected to' a hook portion of the link- 54, thereby providing means for holding the cam follower 49 in yielding engagement with the cam when the lever 42 disengages the lever 48, as indicated in Fig. 3. A toothed lever 51, pivotally mounted on a pin 58, is held in yielding engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 50, by a spring 59, to prevent reverse movement of the control shaft, and to permit forward, or clockwise, rotation thereof, as viewed in Fig. 3.

In accordance with the invention, see Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7, control chains 60, B2, 63, and 64,

are, respectively, mounted in sprocket wheels 65,

68, 61, and 88, that are separately mounted on the control shaft 31, and rotate in unison therewith. The chains are held in operative position by idler wheels 69, 10, 12, and 13, respectively, back beam l5, as indicated in Fig. 4.- Rollers 14, 15, 18, and 11, for cooperation with the control chains 60, 82, 63, and 64, are rotatably mounted on levers 18, 19, 80, and 82, which are pivotally supported by rods 83 and 84, the latter being secured to the transverse bar 39, by means of brackets 85 and 88.

Foot portions of carrier lock levers 81, 88, 89, and 90, having oscillating and axial movement on supporting shafts 92 and 93, carry rods 81a, 88a, 89a, and 90a, which are embraced by forked ends 18a, 19a, 80a, and 82a, of roller supporting levers 18, 19, 80, and 82 thereby providing extensible connections between the respective rods and forked ends providing lost motion longitudinally of the machine between the roller-supporting levers, which are disposed in flxed posiand 82, respectively, are held in yielding engagement with their respective control chains, by springs .94, 95, 96,.and 91, having corresponding ends connected to the levers 18, 19, 88, and 82, respectively, and the other ends connected to of theindividual control chains'80, 62, 83, and' 84 are in engagement with the corresponding follower members; Locking'operation of memher is established by engagement of two lock portions or projections thereof with carriers I and 8, only when the low link 68a. engages the follower 14; looking operation of member 88 is established by engagement of. three such pro- .jections with carriers 4, 8, and 8, only when the low link 82a engages the follower 15; locking operation of member 89 is established by en-' gagement of two lock'projections with carriers [and 1, only when the low link flaen'gag'es the number of the rods, and the members", 88,.

and 89 each. constituting a single means for selectively locking and substantially simultan'eously releasing'a plurality of the carriers in accordance with'a pattern.

screw 20 for engaging the corresponding lock lever, and for adjusting the space relation, longitudinally of the carrier rod 2, between the lock levers and the stops. The carrier rods I, and 3 to 8, inclusive, are similarly provided with stops la, and-3a to 8a, inclusive, as indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 11 to 22, inclusive, also having similar adjusting screws, not shown. Thus the lock lever 98, see Figs. 7 and 8, which looks the carrier 2 is lowered into its locking position of Fig. 8, when either of the low links 64a is positioned beneath the roller 11. The action of the spring 91 moves the lever 82 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 7, for imparting a clockwise movement to the lock lever 98, and

lowering the free end thereof into locking posi' tion relative to the screw members 20 on the carrier 2, to lock said carrier against operation in one direction by the respective actuating unit thereof. 4

When the low links 80a, 62a, 63d, and 84a, of.

the control chains 68, 62, 63, and 64, respectively, are beneath the respective rollers 14,15, 18, and 11, the locking levers 81, 88, .89, and 98 are in lowered operative position relative to the respective carrier rods thereof. This locking action is maintained until a following rotative movement of the control shaft 31 moves the low links from beneath the rollers, and positions high links therebeneath, to again raise the locking levers, so that the carriers are again free to continue their reciprocative travel.

The locking members 81, 88, 88, and 98 are" preferably operative during complete cyclic movements of the carriers, and cannot be re-- leased during the course or couliering, inasmuch as movements of the chain 41, and consequently, of the control chains 88, 62, 83, and 64, are effected only between couliering operations.

The device is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with the automatic operation of needles.

full fashioned knitting machines, while en'ecting "idle courses, during the fabrication of hosiery; an "idle course" resulting when the machine is operated through a usual knitting cycle, without producing loops, and without pressing the loops, of adjacent previously knitted courses, from the This action is necessary, when the couliering mechanism must be moved across the knitting field, to engage a desired carrier or place it out of operation, the normal inoperative position of which carrier is on the side of the knitting section opposite to the side at which the carrier must be placed into, or taken out of, operation.

The links, of the control chains 68, 82, 83, and

84, determine the sequence of operation .ofthe lock levers 81,88, 89, and 88, which hold the carriers at certain times, during the knitting of a full-fashioned stocking blank, as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. The control chains 80, 62, 88,

- and 64, see Fig. 9', control the action of the car rier lock levers oi the machine from a line 5,

, in advance of the first course knitted in the welt,

to a course H6 oi the heel tabs T.

The stocking leg blank L extends, from the top edge of the folded welt portion W, to the coursev I I8 of theheeltabs T. 'I'he'line ll! indidistancecorresponding to a distance relative to the blank, from the line H5 to the line H 1, the

machine operating to reposition its various mechanisms.

The stocking leg blank is knit through a course 11, see Fig. 9, where a low link 64a of the control chain 84 lowers the lock lever 90, see Figs. 11, 11a, and 11b. During the laying of a course e,

a low link 68a of control chain 60 lowers the lock lever 81, and carrier 2 is moved, from an inoperative position, to a position against the lock lever 90, see Figs. 12, 12a, and 12b. During the laying of course I, the yarn of. which is fed to the needles 23, by carrier 4, the control chain 64 operates to raise lock lever 98. At this time,

carrier .l is operatively positioned against the lock lever 81, see Figs. 13, 13a, and 13b. During the laying of course 9, the yarn of which is laid by carrier 2, the control chain 80 operates to raise lock lever 81, so that carrier I may be employed to lay the yarn of the next course, see Figs. 14, 14a, and 14b.

The above-described sequence of operations is for operatively positioning the carriers of the alternating mechanism, which are employed to knit to a course has shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

During the knitting of the course It, the control chains 60, 62, and 63 are operated to lower the lock lever 81 for carrier I, the lock lever 88 for carriers 4, 6, and 8, on the right side of the machine, and lock lever 89 for carriers 5 and 1, on the left side 01. the machine, see Figs. 15, 15a,

and 15b. Line 70 indicates, as more clearly shown in Fig. 10, an idle course, during which carrier 3 is moved in to the ravelling course selvedge edge M, against lock lever 81; carriers 4, 6, and 8 being held along the selvedge edge P, by lock lever 88,

and carriers 5 and 1 being held along the splicing lines R and B, respectively, by lock lever 89, see

along the edge P, by a splicing stop, not shown. j

During this idle movement of the machine, the lock lever, for carriers 4, 6, and8, and the lockv lever, for carriers 5 and 1, are raised, see Figs.

17, 17a, and 17b.

Knitting is continuedthrough course. n, the carrier 4, moving from edge P to edge R, carriers Band 8 moving from edge P to lines P and P respectively, and carriers 5 and 1 moving from lines 1'1. and R respectively, to edge R,

while the lock lever 81 remains in its operative position to hold carrier 3, as illustrated in Figs.

18, 18a, and 18b.

In course 11, carriers 4, 6, and 8, and carriers 5 and 1, return to the starting point of course n,

and the lock levers for these carriers are lowered,

see Figs. 19, 19a, and 19b. During the idle course, indicated at r, the carriers, which are connected to the actuator mechanism, are held inoperative by their respective lock levers. Line s indicates another idle course, during the running of which, carrier 2 is moved from the edge R to line R see Figs. 20, 20a, and 20b. During thls movement of the machine, lock levers 81, 88,

and 89 are raised to release all carriers in the knitting field.- Course it indicates the first ravelling course as laid by the and 10. 1

Knitting is continued to a course 10, Figs. 9 and 10, in which carriers 2 and 5, and carrier 1, move from edge R to edge K andmline R respectively, carrier 3 moves from edge N to edge M, and carriers 4 and 8, and carrier t'move from edge I! and line P respectively, to edge P.

carrier 3, see Figs. 9

During this course, lock levers for all carriers are lowered, see Figs. 21, 21a, and 211).

Line a: indicates an idle movement of the couliering mechanism, from edge P to edge R, in which all the carriers are held. Line 11, see Figs. 9 and 10, indicates an idle movement of the coulierin mechanism in which carrier 3 is moved from edge M to its inoperative position outside of edge P, see Figs. 22, 22a, and 22b. During the course, all lock levers are raised to an inoperative position.

As above set forth, there is a single linkage connection, including the link 54, between the auxiliary pattern unit, embodying the shaft 31 and the sprocket wheels, chains, idler wheels, etc. associated therewith, at one end of the linkage, and the cam shaft l0 and the main pattern device M at the other end of the linkage.

This linkage not only transmits the driving force of the cam shaft to the auxiliary pattern chains, but is directly affected at a position locally associated with the cam shaft, in accordance with the selective operation thereof, by the main pattern chain. Thus, by throwing the follower 49 intermittently into and out of engagement with the cam 40,.no part of the linkage to the shaft 31 is under constant operation, but operates only in accordance with the pattern.

Although the invention has been explained as operative in effecting of idle courses during the production of a ravel course structure, it is also adapted to operate in like manner, when reciprocabie members are to be held stationary during operation of the machine, and without disengaging the reciprocable members from the friction actuating devices, in accordance with a pattern control mechanism.

Further, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which the above mentioned results are obtained, may be modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and claimed.

I claim 1. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to said mechanism including a plurality of yarn carriers for reciprocably traversing the needles, actuating means for said carriers, a pattern device, means for effecting operation of said carriers including aplurality of means each responsive to operation of the pattern device for holding a selective plurality of said carriers against, and releasing them for reciprocative movement by said carrier actuating means, and means providing lost motion connection between said pattern device and said plurality of means.

a 2. .A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to said mechanism including a plurality of yarn carriers for reciprocably traversing the needles, actuating means for said carriers, apattern device, means for effecting operation of said carriers including a plurality of means each for looking a selective plurality of the carriers against, and releasing them for, movement by said actuating means, means responsive to operation of the pattern device for selectively actuating said locking and releasing means, and means providing lost motion connection between said pattern device and said plurality of means.

3. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a'bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to said mechanism including a plurality of yarn carriers for reciprocably travening the needles, drive means for said carriers, a pattern device and means for effecting operation of said carriers including a plurality of means each for looking a selective plurality of the carriers against, and releasing them for movement by said drive means, means providing lost motion connection between said pattern device and said plurality of means, actuating mechanism for said locking and releasing means, and means automatically responsive to operation of the pattern device for actuating the locking and releasing means to lock and release the carriers relative to the drive means in predetermined sequence.

4. A fiat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to said mechanism including a plurality of yarn carriers for reciprocably traversing the needles, drive means for said carriers, a pattern device and means for effecting operation of said carriers including a plurality of means each responsive to operation of the pattern device for holding a selective plurality of said carriers against, and releasing them for, reciprocative movement by said carrier drive means, and means providing lost motion connection between said patterndevice and said plurality of means.

5, In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a knitting mechanism including needles, actuating means therefor including a cam shaft, means for feeding yarn to the needles including a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable yarn-carrier rods, and a main pattern device, I

of means for controlling operation of the yarncarrier rods including a plurality of elements each movable for selective locking and releasing relation to a selective plurality of; the rods, a plurality of auxiliary pattern devices including one for actuating each of said lock elements, means for connecting the auxiliary pattern devices to, and disconnecting them from, the cam shaft, means operated bythe main pattern device for controlling said connecting means, and means providing a lost motion connection between each of said pattern devices and its corresponding lock element.

6. In a. full fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a knitting mechanism including needles, actuating means therefor including a cam shaft, means for feeding yarn to the needles including a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable yarn carrier rods, and a main pattern device, of means for controlling operation of the yarn carrier rods including a plurality of elements each movable for selective locking and releasing relation to a selective plurality of the rods, means on the yarn carrier rods for effecting engagement between the rods and the operation-controlling means, a plurality of auxiliary pattern devices including one for actuating each of said lock elements, means for connecting the auxiliary pattern devices to, and disconnecting them from, the'cam shaft, means operated by the main pattern device for controlling said connecting means.

'7. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a knitting mechanism including needles, actuating means therefor including a cam shaft, means for feeding yarn to the needles including a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable yarn-carrier rods, and a main pattern device, of means for controlling operation of the yarncarrler rods including a cain on the shaft, ele ments movable for selective locking and releasing relation to the rods, a plurality of auxiliary 2,111,495 pattern devices, means including a follower for means providing a lost motion connection between each of said pattern devices and its corresponding lock element.

a. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a knitting mechanism including a needle bank, actuating means therefor ineluding a cam shaft, means for feeding yarn to the needles including a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable yarn-carrier rods, and a main pattern device, of means for controlling operation of the yarn-carrier rods including lock levers pivotally mounted aside the rods for selective locking and releasing relation thereto, a control shaft, an auxiliary pattern device on the control shaft for each of the lock levers, follower levers provided one for cooperation between each lock lever and its corresponding auxiliary pattern device, a ratchet wheel on the auxiliary shaft, a pawl for the ratchet, means including a cam on the cam shaft, and a follower lever linkage for actuating the pawl, and means operating between the linkage and the main pattern device for con trolling the connection between the linkage and the cam, I e

9. In a full. fashioned knitting machine, the combination with a knitting mechanism includinga needle bank, actuating means therefor including a cam shaft, means for feeding yarn to the needles including a plurality of longitudinally reciprocable yarn carrier rods, and a main pattern chain, of means for controlling idle course movement of the yarn-carrier rods including lock levers pivotally mounted for selective locking and -releasing relation to the rods, a control shaft, a

chain-supporting wheel'on the control shaft for each of the lock levers, idle wheels provided one for the chain of eachof the chain-supporting wheels, an auxiliary pattern chain for each of the supporting wheels and its corresponding idler v wheel, follower levers provided one for cooperalease from, the cam.

10. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism. including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of yam-carrier rods for reciprocallytraversing the needles, actuating means for the carrier rods, a pattern device, and means for effecting operation of the carrier rods including a plurality ofmovable lock members ex- .tending transversely to the rods responsive to operation of the pattern device for movement in selected sequence and each embodying one or more lock portions of difierent number and location from the corresponding portion or portions of another of the lock members for cooperation with a selectednumber ofthe rods, at least one nism including a plurality of yarn-carrier rods for reciprocally traversing the needles, actuating 'meansfor the carrier rods, a pattern device, and

means for effecting operation of the carrier rods including a pluraiityof levers pivoted about an axis parallel to the rods responsive to operation of the pattern device for movement in selected sequence and each embodying one or more depending lock portions of diiferent number and location from the corresponding portion or portions of another of the levers for cooperation with a selected number of the rods, at least one of the levers having a space between two lock portions avoiding interference of the lever with a rod between the rods cooperating with its lock portions.

12. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting A mechanism including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of yarn-carrier rods for reciprocally traversing the needles, actuating means for the carrier rods, a pattern device, and means foreflecting operation of the carrier rods including a plurality of levers responsive to operation of the pattern device for movement in selected sequence each pivoted about an axis parallel to the rods and embodying one or more lock portions of different number and location from the corresponding portion or portions of another of'the levers along an edge transverse to the rods for cooperation with a selected number of the rods, at least one of the levers having a space between two lock portions avoiding interference of the lever with a rod between the rods cooperating with its lock portions.

13. A flat knitting machine comprising k itting mechanism including a bank of needles, meansfor 'feedingyarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of yarn-carrier rods for reciprocally traversing the needles, actuating means for the carrier rods, an auxiliary pattern device, a main pattern device for controlling the auxiliary pattern device, and means for eflecting operation of the carrier rods includinga plurality of Y movable lock members extending transversely t0 the rods each including one or more lock portions of diflerent number and location from the corresponding portion or portions of another of the lock members for cooperation with a selected number of the rods. at least one of the lock members having a space between two lock portions avoiding interference of the member with a rod between the rods cooperating with its lock portions, andfollower means actuated by the auxiliary control device for operating the lock members.

14. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism includng a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of yarn-carrier rods .for reciprocally traversing the needles, actuating means for the carrier rods, an auxiliary pattern device,

a main pattern device for controlling the auxiliary pattern device, anarrowing carriage, and means for eflecting operation of the carrier rods including a plurality of movable lock members on the narrowing carriage each including one or more look portions ofdiflerent number and location from the corresponding lock portion or portions of another of the lock members for cooperation with a selected number of the rods, follower means fixed longitudinally of the carrier rods and actuated by the auxiliary control device for oper- I ating the lock members, and means for compen= means actuating by the auxiliary control device 7 narrowing carriage relative to the follower means including an extensible connector between the follower means and the lock members.

15. A-flat knitting machine comprising knittin mechanism including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of yarn-carrier rods for reciprocally traversing the needles, actuating means for the carrier rods, an auxiliary pattern device, a main pattern device for controlling the aux iliary pattern device, and means for eflecting operation of the carrier rods including a plurality of levers pivoted about axes parallel to the rods and each embodying one or more portions of different number and location from the corresponding portion or portions of another of the levers along an edge transversely of the rods for cooperation with a selected number of the rods, at least one of the levers having a space between two lock portions avoiding interference of the lever with a rod between the rods cooperating with its lock portions, and follower for operating the levers.

16. A flat knitting machine comprising knitting mechanism including a bank of needles, means for feeding yarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of yarn-carrier rods for reciprocally traversing the needles, actuating means for the tern device, a narrowing carriage, and means for effecting operation of the carrier rods including a plurality of levers pivoted about'axes parallel to the rods and each embodying one or more portions of different number and location from the corresponding portion or portions of another .of the levers along an edge transversely of the rods, for cooperation with a selected number of the rods, follower means fixed longitudinally of the carrier rods and actuated by the auxiliary control device for operating the levers, and means for compensating for movement of the levers by the narrowing carriage relative to the follower means in- I eluding an extensible connector between the follower means and the levers.

17. In a straight knitting machine, the'combination with knitting mechanism including needles, actuating means therefor including a cam shaft, means for feeding yarn to the knitting mechanism including a plurality of reciprocable yarn carriers, and a main pattern device, of means for controlling operation of the yarn carriers including a cam on the shaft, elements movable for selective locking and releasing relation to the carriers, a plurality of auxiliary pattern devices for operating said elements and means operated by the main pattern device for selectively operating the auxiliary pattern devices.

PAUL SCHMIDT. 

